Archive | Math

Math Fact Practice with a Soccer Ball

June 30, 2012 By Jennifer

This idea dates ALL the way back to my days as a public school teacher! I used to play this game on days when we had indoor recess. As a homeschool mom, I love that all of my kids can play it together, while doing different levels of math!

Lovely! Also, I plan on playing this in my Essentials class at our local Classical Conversations Community.

Have the kids sit in a circle. (or triangle in this case) Throw the ball to a brother. After catching the ball, he looks at his thumbs. Preschoolers/Kinders identify the numbers that are under their thumbs. Younger Elementary students will add or subtract the numbers under their thumbs. Upper elementary kids will multiply the numbers under their thumbs. Also, olders could square or cube each number. If their thumb lands on a black square, then they choose the closest number to their thumb. After performing his math problem, he throws it to the next brother. Each child is doing his own math level, while participating in the same game. (Did you notice? They have shirts on….for once….I just wanted to prove to you that they DO own shirts!)

My son caught the ball with his thumbs on the three and the six. So, he will say “3 times 6 equals 18″ and throw it to the next brother. (Notice that I wrote a line under the numbers so they know which way to look at the number.)

My boys are not allowed to touch this soccer ball unless they are doing math. For that reason, they have been known to pick it up and do math facts all on their own!!! You’ve got to love that!! To play solo, just toss the ball in the air and catch it. Play the game as described, but just continue catching it by yourself.

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War- A Math Card Game

April 4, 2012 By Jennifer

Anything with the title “War” gets a thumbs up with my boys. War, a common card game, has a lot of mathematic potential!

War card game

The Basics of War

Supplies: Standard deck of playing cards with 52 cards

Number of Players: Two

Length of Time: 15-45 minutes (depending on level)

Goal: To win all of the cards

Basic rules:

Shuffle the deck of cards.
Deal the cards so that each player has 26 cards. Players keep their cards in front of them, face down.
Each player simultaneously flips over their top card. The player with the highest card wins both cards.
If the players have the same card (a tie), there is a war.
1. Each player places three cards in front of them, face down.
2. Flip over a fourth card.
3. The player with the highest card wins every card (all ten cards in the middle of the table.)
The first person to win all of the cards wins the game.

Preschool or Kindgergarten…..recognize and compare numbers 2-10

Preschool/Kindergarten Math

Goal: To help the child recognize and compare numbers 2-10

Remove all of the face cards, jokers, and aces so that the deck only contains numbers 2-10.
Play the game as described above, but with less cards.
As you play, ask these questions:
1. What number do you have?
2. What number do I have?
3. Which number is greater….is more?
4. Which number is smaller….is less?
If necessary, provide a manipulative to help the child decide which number is greater.
1. Place two bears next to the two playing card and place five bears next to the five playing card.
2. Which card has more bears?

Lower Elementary…..Practice Addition or Multiplication Facts

Lower Elementary Math Game

Goal: To help the child practice addition and multiplication math facts.

Remove all of the face cards, jokers, and aces so that the deck only contains numbers 2-10.
Play the game as described above, except each player will draw two cards from the top of the deck.
If practicing addition facts, the player will add the two numbers on the cards.
If practicing multiplication facts, the player will multiply the two numbers on the cards.
The person with the highest sum or product wins all four cards.
If necessary, use manipulatives to illustrate the math problems.
1. “My first factor is five, so I will get five cubes. My second factor is two, so that is telling me that I will have two groups of five cubes. How many cubes do I have altogether?”

Upper Elementary….Practice using multiple operations with three numbers….addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squares, or cubes.

Upper Elementary Math Game

Remove all of the face cards, jokers, and aces so that the deck only contains numbers 2-10.
Play the game as described above, except that each player will draw three cards from the top of the deck.
Each player may use any operation necessary to create the highest number possible with the three cards. The numbers can be in any order. All numbers must be used.
If my three cards are five, two, and six…..I could create the following sums:
1. 5+2+6=13
2. 5-2+6=9
3. 5×2+6=16
4. 5x2x6=60
5. 6/2+5=8
6. 5 (2+6)= 40
7. More complex………6squared + 5squared+ 2 squared=65
8. Even more complex……..6cubed+5cubed+2cubed=349
9. any operation, any combination!
The player that creates the highest number wins all six cards.
Variations: The player that creates the lowest number wins all six cards.

Preschool and Kindergarten

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Shaving Cream Schoolwork

March 1, 2012 By Jennifer

After reading my title, you are probably thinking I am nuts! Shaving cream? What?! Yes, friend. Shaving cream. It is guaranteed to break up the monotony of your day.

Before I give you my list of ways to incorporate shaving cream, I must have a chat with your son. Come here, buddy. Okay, young man, here are the rules:

Write with one finger. (Finger….not fist, elbow, or toes)
Under no circumstances will we be clapping our hands while they are covered in shaving cream.
It is not whipped topping. Keep your tongue away from it.
Shaving cream beards are only acceptable after you have done your work. Mom wants to teach you, not Santa Claus.

Okay, Mom. Back to you. Here is my “Shaving Cream Schoolwork” list by age:

Preschool/Kindergarten

Draw or copy shapes, letters, simple words, or numbers
draw a self-portrait
write his name
patterns (Mom writes the first part, son finishes it)
uppercase and lowercase letters (Mom writes upper, child writes it’s “buddy” or vice versa.)
Little Man's Shapes

Lower Elementary

Write spelling words.
Write addition and subtraction problems (pictures or numerals)
Manuscript Letter Formation
Phonics (Ex: Mom says sound. Son writes the letters that make that sound)
Fractions (Ex: Mom names a fraction. Son draws a shape that represents that fraction.)
Skip Counting (Ex: Write the numbers that represent skip counting by 2′s.)
Odd/Even Numbers (Ex: Write the even numbers to 20.)
Multiplication Problems

Upper Elementary

Write spelling words.
Write vocabulary words. (Ex: Mom says “to stick with it; to continue doing something that is hard.” Son writes “persevere.”
Draw a picture to represent the meaning of a vocabulary word. (Ex: Mom says “atrocious.” Son draws asparagus.)
Write multiplication and division problems. (pictures or numerals)
Cursive letter formation
Antonyms/Synonyms (Ex: Mom says smoldering. Son writes frigid.)
Decimals (Mom says five and twenty-three hundredths. Son writes 5.23)

Clean-up Tip: Spray the area with a spray bottle of water. Wipe clean with paper towels.